Best 4x4 for £12k roughly that we will get a few years from!
Discussion
Hi folks, we are looking for a 4x4 - we have been managing with the Passat and A6 for 3 years now but we live on hillside that gets little sun, a lot of ice, flooding and this winter a reasonable amount of snow!
Our mileages are pretty high about 20 & 30k per year so want something fairly low miles, that we will get at least 4/5 years service from and decent fuel economy! I've given up trying to keep the A6 clean inside and out, we now need something that my 2 year old can wash with her gravel sponge and the inside can just get things chucked in!!
We were pretty keen on the Outlander Phev but read a lot of reviews and they aren't great so far as real world fuel and energy consumption go!
So that leaves the Diesel version of the Outlander, a new shape Nissan X-trail or a Volvo XC60.
I like the look of the Xtrail its a decent size and good spec for the price but do worry about reliability and that 1.6 engine, not familiar with Nissan at all so any feedback or other suggestions appreciated. Dont want to go older than 2011
Thanks
Our mileages are pretty high about 20 & 30k per year so want something fairly low miles, that we will get at least 4/5 years service from and decent fuel economy! I've given up trying to keep the A6 clean inside and out, we now need something that my 2 year old can wash with her gravel sponge and the inside can just get things chucked in!!
We were pretty keen on the Outlander Phev but read a lot of reviews and they aren't great so far as real world fuel and energy consumption go!
So that leaves the Diesel version of the Outlander, a new shape Nissan X-trail or a Volvo XC60.
I like the look of the Xtrail its a decent size and good spec for the price but do worry about reliability and that 1.6 engine, not familiar with Nissan at all so any feedback or other suggestions appreciated. Dont want to go older than 2011
Thanks
We've had a lot of issues and very poor support from VAG as a result of the update on our Passat going wrong from the emissions scandal so was going to steer clear of them, I have heard the Tiguans have had a lot of issues so steering away from them.
The floods are not too bad all well under a foot! The roads and track are pretty rutted so ride height is a factor. The A6 is an Sline and the suspension / underbody take a fair pounding!
The floods are not too bad all well under a foot! The roads and track are pretty rutted so ride height is a factor. The A6 is an Sline and the suspension / underbody take a fair pounding!
RicksAlfas said:
I would have thought anything Japanese or Korean with some decent tyres on it.
How big are your floods? Would a jacked up car work? - Skoda Scout, Audi Allroad etc.
Yep, asian for reliability.How big are your floods? Would a jacked up car work? - Skoda Scout, Audi Allroad etc.
had Rav4 for alps work for years. I have petrol for reliability over lots of short runs, still get good mpg esp on a run.
that Nissan diesel is a Renault lump.
strath44 said:
Hi folks, we are looking for a 4x4 - we have been managing with the Passat and A6 for 3 years now but we live on hillside that gets little sun, a lot of ice, flooding and this winter a reasonable amount of snow!
Our mileages are pretty high about 20 & 30k per year so want something fairly low miles, that we will get at least 4/5 years service from and decent fuel economy! I've given up trying to keep the A6 clean inside and out, we now need something that my 2 year old can wash with her gravel sponge and the inside can just get things chucked in!!
We were pretty keen on the Outlander Phev but read a lot of reviews and they aren't great so far as real world fuel and energy consumption go!
So that leaves the Diesel version of the Outlander, a new shape Nissan X-trail or a Volvo XC60.
I like the look of the Xtrail its a decent size and good spec for the price but do worry about reliability and that 1.6 engine, not familiar with Nissan at all so any feedback or other suggestions appreciated. Dont want to go older than 2011
Thanks
Nissans are brilliant and the xtrail is fantastic. All Jap cars are extremely reliable and strong, don't ex[ect luxury tho. Volvos are also great but not as off roady as an Xtrail more of a bit cruiser, but will get you through the snow no issue.Our mileages are pretty high about 20 & 30k per year so want something fairly low miles, that we will get at least 4/5 years service from and decent fuel economy! I've given up trying to keep the A6 clean inside and out, we now need something that my 2 year old can wash with her gravel sponge and the inside can just get things chucked in!!
We were pretty keen on the Outlander Phev but read a lot of reviews and they aren't great so far as real world fuel and energy consumption go!
So that leaves the Diesel version of the Outlander, a new shape Nissan X-trail or a Volvo XC60.
I like the look of the Xtrail its a decent size and good spec for the price but do worry about reliability and that 1.6 engine, not familiar with Nissan at all so any feedback or other suggestions appreciated. Dont want to go older than 2011
Thanks
I live in Perthshire for a good part of the year and my cheap 4x4 is a Fiat Panda Multijet. It's on a set of Nokian Weatherproof tyres (£250 for 4 fully fitted), only requires servicing every 20k miles, and does 64MPG all day long. It laughs at snow & ice, has decent ground clearance so can deal with reasonably deep water, and only cost £7K at 3 years old and with 25K miles on it.
If you're considering the XC60 I'd say take a good look at the Ford Kuga in Titanium X spec, when doing 20-30k I'd go for the diesel.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mazda Cx7?
I've had 2 (one 2.3 Petrol a number of years ago and a 2.2 Diesel one more recently).
Only sold the 2.2 to get my VW camper as with 3 kids in car seats we couldn't manage with the CX7 any more.
Other than DPF light a couple of times which was a simple oil change and reset at dealers I had absolutely no issues with mine.
Nice place to be, cheap and went anywhere I wanted with decent tyres on. Might be too high on the miles for you now though.
The CX5 that followed could be an option but I know certain engine numbers had issues with camshafts (the inlaws included) so watch out for that.
Dave
I've had 2 (one 2.3 Petrol a number of years ago and a 2.2 Diesel one more recently).
Only sold the 2.2 to get my VW camper as with 3 kids in car seats we couldn't manage with the CX7 any more.
Other than DPF light a couple of times which was a simple oil change and reset at dealers I had absolutely no issues with mine.
Nice place to be, cheap and went anywhere I wanted with decent tyres on. Might be too high on the miles for you now though.
The CX5 that followed could be an option but I know certain engine numbers had issues with camshafts (the inlaws included) so watch out for that.
Dave
didn't even know there was a car buying sub forum oops......
Thanks Dave that's very interesting as I've just looked at a CX5, indeed the CX7s are nice but a bit too high miles now for us sorry.
This was partly why I started this topic in the first place its interesting to hear of any major issues of vehicle faults.
The CX5 is nice and the apparent (don't worry I always assume at least 20% or worse of stated) economy from a 2.2 diesel was appealing, they have just done a facelift so there are quite a few deals on the prev version.
I think we are creeping closer to an Xtrail, just a bit concerned about the 1.6 engine but I guess things have moved on a fair bit technology and mapping wise so if there is 1.0l mondeo I'm sure this would work!!
I stupidly assumed all XC60s were 4x4 and its quite hard to tell which are I think its just the D5 2.2 in the Diesels unless anyone can point me otherwise?
Thanks Dave that's very interesting as I've just looked at a CX5, indeed the CX7s are nice but a bit too high miles now for us sorry.
This was partly why I started this topic in the first place its interesting to hear of any major issues of vehicle faults.
The CX5 is nice and the apparent (don't worry I always assume at least 20% or worse of stated) economy from a 2.2 diesel was appealing, they have just done a facelift so there are quite a few deals on the prev version.
I think we are creeping closer to an Xtrail, just a bit concerned about the 1.6 engine but I guess things have moved on a fair bit technology and mapping wise so if there is 1.0l mondeo I'm sure this would work!!
I stupidly assumed all XC60s were 4x4 and its quite hard to tell which are I think its just the D5 2.2 in the Diesels unless anyone can point me otherwise?
I think the CX5 engine issues was a certain batch of engine numbers so is easy to find out what is affected and what isn't.
I found it on Google when the inlaw's sh#t itself. Theres was full mazda service history and 50k odd miles. Soft camshaft basically put iron filings through the engine and first they knew of it was when turbo died. Mazda only contributed to the repair which only amounted to new camshaft, new turbo and an engine flush. NOTHING done to inspect the bearings etc!! they traded it in straight away for a new CX3 with warranty as this is the second stroke of bad luck they have had with engines.
Dave
I found it on Google when the inlaw's sh#t itself. Theres was full mazda service history and 50k odd miles. Soft camshaft basically put iron filings through the engine and first they knew of it was when turbo died. Mazda only contributed to the repair which only amounted to new camshaft, new turbo and an engine flush. NOTHING done to inspect the bearings etc!! they traded it in straight away for a new CX3 with warranty as this is the second stroke of bad luck they have had with engines.
Dave
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
I had an X-Trail on hire the other year for a week and tour of the country - so probably the generation you want.
I think it was a Manual but I remember driving it around thinking "if you didn't actually" really care too much about your car - this has everything you could want.
Pano roof, camera's, toys', active this and that.
It was spec'd up and relatively frugal - my only fear was that for a car like that, I would take an Auto - and would it have enough guts in Auto configuration.
right now I think that is where we are at in life, I used to religiously detail and my car but even if I had the time there would be no point, my mileage is so high my wife tends to drive the better of our cars. Although to be fair she is generally very good the children cannot be relied upon for not bashing bikes etc into it when I'm not about so I think its time for something a bit more utilitarian!I think it was a Manual but I remember driving it around thinking "if you didn't actually" really care too much about your car - this has everything you could want.
Pano roof, camera's, toys', active this and that.
It was spec'd up and relatively frugal - my only fear was that for a car like that, I would take an Auto - and would it have enough guts in Auto configuration.
I've been and looked at Kuga's this week, I don't like the interior and although I could live with it as the Xtrails is a bit disco balls as well the boot capacity and rear legroom is poor, I guess its based on a focus chassis?? Similarly I was really disappointed by the Rav4 boot space as well, it ticks a lot of other boxes!
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
I had an X-Trail on hire the other year for a week and tour of the country - so probably the generation you want.
I think it was a Manual but I remember driving it around thinking "if you didn't actually" really care too much about your car - this has everything you could want.
Pano roof, camera's, toys', active this and that.
It was spec'd up and relatively frugal - my only fear was that for a car like that, I would take an Auto - and would it have enough guts in Auto configuration.
I think the major problem of the X Trail auto is that its the Xtronic CVT. I don't believe that its too reliable or long lasting.I think it was a Manual but I remember driving it around thinking "if you didn't actually" really care too much about your car - this has everything you could want.
Pano roof, camera's, toys', active this and that.
It was spec'd up and relatively frugal - my only fear was that for a car like that, I would take an Auto - and would it have enough guts in Auto configuration.
I read good things about the manual though. The 1.6 diesel may not be the quickest but its reasonably torquey and the high riding and soft suspension honest really encourage you to drove too fast.
Good luck.
Thanks really appreciate the help in a fairly mundane topic.
We've never really had autos before so the CVT isn't too much of a concern, the prices are pretty good just now ideally looking for Ntec with as low miles as possible under £14k a tow bar is high up the list but just for the bike carrier or small trailer. I really like the look of the 2014 on xtrail, it's funny how much of a departure from the previous version it is, think it shares the Renault Kadjar chassis!? It's also funny how many people (I imagine) will assume it's a Qashqai!
I bought a top spec Suzuki Grand Vitara brand new in 2008 for about £16k as a special from stock everyone laughed and even as a diesel the fuel economy was dreadful but as bad as it drove it was a very good car and saw us through some of the worst winters on record. The xtrail seems fairly similar in so far as it might not have a lot of street credibility but it has a lot of functionality! I just did an mot history check on the Suzuki and think we got rid of it at the right time!
We've never really had autos before so the CVT isn't too much of a concern, the prices are pretty good just now ideally looking for Ntec with as low miles as possible under £14k a tow bar is high up the list but just for the bike carrier or small trailer. I really like the look of the 2014 on xtrail, it's funny how much of a departure from the previous version it is, think it shares the Renault Kadjar chassis!? It's also funny how many people (I imagine) will assume it's a Qashqai!
I bought a top spec Suzuki Grand Vitara brand new in 2008 for about £16k as a special from stock everyone laughed and even as a diesel the fuel economy was dreadful but as bad as it drove it was a very good car and saw us through some of the worst winters on record. The xtrail seems fairly similar in so far as it might not have a lot of street credibility but it has a lot of functionality! I just did an mot history check on the Suzuki and think we got rid of it at the right time!
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